Gemmy: An Epic Adventure

By Edward Holzman

In this beautifully illustrated and magical story, Gemmy, a sweet young Kangaroo is born into an idyllic world where Kangaroos flourish. Gemmy is perfect except she was born without a pouch - a big deal for Kangaroos! As she nears adolescence, she is shunned by some and teased by others in her herd. This makes her very sad. On an otherwise normal day, through a series of unexpected events, Gemmy finds herself hundreds of miles from home in the faraway land of the Australian Outback. She finds herself alone - totally alone, in a new and incredibly dangerous place. But Gemmy is not doomed - far from it, she soon meets her new and very colorful friends, both animal and human, and they unite as The Three. They soon discover a plan, a human plan, to destroy her homeland. It must be stopped... Gathering some unlikely allies along the way, the mission takes The Three on an exciting, action packed, fraught with danger adventure - all against seemingly insurmountable odds! Will she succeed, and how? Will Gemmy save her family, her precious homeland, and the habitat of hundreds of kindred spirit critters? "A great story! I loved it! "Heartwarming and compelling- full of great characters, positive life lessons and humor- all told in the context of thrilling Action and Adventure Appealing to all genders and age groups. A straight out of the gate classic!" Paula Jameson-Whitney, Assistant Superintendent Educational Services, Ret. National School District

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644717608

Book preview

9781644717608_cover.jpg

Gemmy

An Epic Adventure™

Edward R. Holzman

ISBN 978-1-64471-758-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64471-759-2 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64471-760-8 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Edward R. Holzman

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Kangaroo Village

One

Central Cave

Two

Gemmy’s First Day at School

Three

Flash, Boom, Bang

Four

The Forest

Five

Just a Drink of Water

Six

The Two

Seven

Loathsome Headquarters

Eight

Gemmy’s Gift

Nine

The Crevice

Ten

Chester and the Longhorns

Eleven

The Vault

Twelve

Chester’s Decision

Thirteen

The Three

Fourteen

The Mountain and Beyond

Fifteen

The Top Dog

Sixteen

Show Time

Seventeen

Epilogue

About the Author

Gemmy is lovingly dedicated to

Joseph L. Rubin and Kelly A. Rubin

Without their love, inspiration and creativity, this book would not have been possible.

Illustrations

Les Toil

Cover Art

Peter Rosenlund

Art Direction

Edward R. Holzman

A portion of the proceeds from GEMMY go to a selection of animal care non-profit organizations.

Prologue

Imagine, imagine floating weightlessly—effortlessly, and without a hint of fear through the bluest, the very bluest of blue skies. A warm, gentle breeze on your face—gliding through an occasional small gossamer white cloud.

Close your eyes for a moment and feel the pleasant coolness on the surface of your face as you pass through the mist in the otherwise warm air.

Go ahead, close them. No, really, do it just for a moment.

Now you emerge back into the blueness. Below you are the lush green grasses that blanket the gently rolling hills of sunny Southern Australia. The hills dotted with wild trees laden with fruits and berries, and below them, many kinds of sweet and succulent natural grasses in many different shades of green.

A clear, sweet water-babbling brook winds its way gently through the landscape. The sun glints off the rounded rocks in the stream, made wet from the water gently flowing over them, and making the most pleasant of gurgling sounds.

All is as it should be beautiful—perfect.

As you glide through another tiny cloud and come out the other side, you find yourself closer to earth, still gliding, still with no fear. You see an unspoiled Garden of Eden, full of life where birds chirp and all sorts of cute and friendly native Australian critters frolic without a care.

In this faraway land—unless you are in Australia but not that long ago—a baby girl Kangaroo was born into a loving family and into this perfect world. Her name is Gemmy, and this is her world, and this is the story that changed her life. As a matter of fact, it changed the life of many.

Kangaroos or Roos, as they are sometimes known, are very social animals and can gather together in rather large groups known as herds. Among these herds, strong families are formed. The mothers carry their Joeys—as Roo children are called in their pouches, their very important pouches—for well over a year, sometimes even longer than that before the little ones come out and slowly learn how to take care of themselves.

It’s the Roo Village, but many other friendly feathered and furry animals of all sorts make it their home too, living in harmony, and happy as can be. Today Gemmy’s herd are gathered on a large lawn-like area. They occupy themselves with various Roo activities.

Kangaroo Village

One

On the lawn’s edge is a gently sloping green hill dotted with many rounded openings at different heights. Flower-lined paths lead to the openings and behind them are the comfortable and well-kept caves that the Roos have made their homes. Across the lawn, the view from the hill is the edge of an immense and picture-perfect forest. Today, the Roos’ activities are centered in front of Central Cave , where the Roo leader and his family live. It’s quite impressive with a larger opening and a beautiful flower-lined path approaching.

All the characteristics of a human community: fathers, mothers, and children. It’s a festive place. It’s everyday life in Roo Village.

On the lawn, there is music. Three background singers, dancers, and the lead singer. Now in the middle of a Roo version in the hip-hop style of an Australian folk song.

Next to them, a good-natured but rowdy group of Roos gather to watch a traditional Roo boxing match between two young male Roos. It’s the championship contest. The current Champ being a little older, much bigger, and stronger.

But the Challenger has a fierce heart and is full of confidence, and many think he will win. Final preparations are underway as the layers of leaves that serve as gloves are laced on with vines from the forest. Some in the crowd make bets with fruits, nuts, and berries.

Just next to them, the herd’s juggler entertains the crowd by keeping several bowling-pin-shaped pieces of wood in the air while contorting his body in various positions that sometimes resemble a twisted pretzel. Sometimes, he gets so twisted up, he has a heck of a time untwisting himself, which is a show in itself.

Little Roo, who is little more than a child but growing up fast, looks sad. He is alone off to the side, and apart from the group. He swings to and fro on a vine tied to a tree branch. He is watching, just watching, only watching. He’s especially watching Gemmy.

Across the way on the patio in front of Central Cave, which is her home, Gemmy is alone too and sad as well. Gemmy is a smart, sensitive, and beautiful little girl. She’s about the same age as Little Roo. But being a girl, she’s grown up a little faster and is very, very soon to be an adult herself.

Gemmy is a very special Roo though because Gemmy has one normal brown eye and one quite spectacular Gem Like Emerald-Green Eye that sparkles radiantly. That eye gave her parents the idea to call her Gemmy.

There is one more thing that makes Gemmy different, very different—but more of that in a minute. Right now, she occupies herself by bouncing a seedpod on the rock wall next to Central Cave, catching it and then bouncing it again.

The boxing match has started, and The Challenger wastes no time. He is giving the Champ quite a pummeling that nearly knocks him off his feet. The crowd is silent, stunned at this very early turn of events. Could this be the end already? No, the Champ recovers and now does the most unexpected of things, breaking the most basic of Roo-boxing customs; he does a handstand and starts battering the Challenger with what are all Roos’ most powerful weapons—their muscular hind legs and tail. This behavior is unheard of, and the crowd goes wild with amazement, booing and heckling the Champ.

From some distance away, a senior-Roo couple sit on the grass watching. Out of nowhere and quite unexpectedly, the senior male Roo gets a gleam in his eye, leans over, and tries to steal a kiss. This startles and embarrasses her. After she pulls away, she gives him a look that does not hide her disapproval.

Not in public! Never in public! she scowls.

In the boxing ring, the Challenger is clearly in trouble and headed for defeat. The Champ is doing flips from upright to upside down with glee, seemingly quite proud of himself.

Four toddler Roos, two boys and two girls, sit in some sand. One of the boys, seeing the boxers, and quite unexpectedly, harmlessly but very purposefully punches the other boy. The two girls are startled, eyes wide. The mothers of the two boys sweep in quickly, picking them up, and whisking them away. It’s a time-out for them.

Three young Roos, two boys and one girl, are hopping around among the others, playing tag. One of the boys teases the girl, You can’t catch me. You never can!

The other boy joins in. Yeah, you’ll never catch him!

The girl is quick to react, Can too. Watch!

With that challenge, she is already in motion, chasing him, and being extremely quick and agile, she does catch him. Not only does she catch him, but she tackles him, holding him down by straddling his belly and holding his paws to the ground. The other boy’s interest quickly wanes; he gets distracted and wanders off. The girl looks down at her captive.

See, She says quite proudly.

The boy struggles to get loose but can’t and says, Okay, you got lucky. Now let me up!

Enjoying the moment, she looks him right in the eyes and says, Don’t think so.

He closes his eyes for a moment before saying, Come on, don’t be a jerk.

She puts her face close to his and whispers, I can hardly wait, can you?

Having no earthly idea of what she is talking about but being very embarrassed and just wanting to get out of there in the fastest possible way starts to ask, What are you— Halfway through his question, he realizes that it will just lead to more conversation, something he definitely doesn’t want, so he simply demands, Whatever, now let me up!

A smile grows on her face. I can hardly wait till you and I get married and have our own little Roos.

Well, this came out of nowhere. He is shocked, astonished, and speechless all at once. His eyes open very wide as does his mouth, but he can’t say a word.

The juggler is still at it, and someone from the crowd throws him another pin, and he has them all up in the air for a moment. But then one of the pins goes astray while up in the air. There is so much going on that no